Nine images of Opuntia ficus-indica, Prickly Pear Cactus; Prickly Pear fruit, Cactaceae, cactus family was grown in orchards by the Aztecs as a source of both the edible fruits, and edible leaves or pads. Traditionally the leaves have been a primary folk treatment for diabetes in Mexican traditions. Today this cactus is widely grown in many parts of the world.